Product was provided by Walgreens for this post with no obligation to review.

Back-to-school shopping. It’s probably one of the best parts of going back to school – fresh notebooks and pencils, backpacks and lunch boxes. And it even clears away a little of the end-of-summer blues.

But do you know that while you make a purchase for your education, or your child’s, you can actually contribute to the education of someone in need? Not only education, but also clean water, nutrition, health, and job opportunity. I definitely didn’t know that a pack of pencils could go so far.

Your Back-To-School Purchases Can Do More

The ME to We Foundation is an initiative from Walgreens and various name brand partners. Their mission is to collect a percentage of back-to-school products sold through their stores to give back to those in need in other countries. Through their donation, more children have access to education, parents have opportunities for job development, and families can get clean water, health care, vitamins, food, and more.

What I think is so amazing about this program is the social consciousness it develops, both for me (in choosing what we purchase) and my kids. My oldest goes to Pre-Kindergarten this fall, and let me tell you, the supply list is long.

I can get self-absorbed with it all, wanting to pick out the best products for my guy, and forget so many people are still in need of basic supplies just to learn numbers and letters.

Not only that, but my son can have as much or as little idea about people in need as I talk to him about. This program provides such an amazing opportunity to share with him the good that his school supplies will do worldwide.

And he can see it firsthand. Products that are part of the initiative come with codes. You can enter these codes at the ME to WE website to see just what kind of good your purchase is doing. It’s not theoretical – it’s really touching and impacting lives.

Still Shopping?

I know school has started for many. But you may still have some shopping to do. And you know that you’ll probably have to run out to the store a few more times after school starts to get missing items.

I so recommend the products from Walgreens ME to WE collection. They are doing good, and they actually look good too. They have positive messages, like reaching goals and going after dreams. And they come in on-trend colors and designs.

Thank you to Walgreens for doing so much good, and for teaming up to spread the news about this program!

Narrowing down your closet means nailing down your personal style. But unless you’re born with that natural instinct for what you like and what looks good together, you’ll have to figure it out as you go. And for me, it can be a frustrating process.

In high school, I just wore jeans and t-shirts everyday. So college was where I started experimenting with fashion more. But figuring out my style was like throwing darts at a target blindfolded. I pulled inspiration from my friends, and often just bought whatever looked cute that also was the cheapest. It made for a crazy collection of clothing.

I’m continuing to figure it out. But it has gotten much more fine-tuned than it used to be. Now I’m at a point where I know myself well enough to know what I’ll reach for most, what I can combine to make multiple outfits, and what I can afford to spend a little more on.

Do you get stressed trying to figure out what’s “you”? Here are some tips for narrowing down your look, so you can start streamlining to a capsule closet.

Find inspiration.

Figure out what kind of style you’re most drawn to. You can do this a few ways: by finding a friend whose style you most want to copy. Through magazines. Or, my favorite, through Pinterest. My “To Wear” board is where I catalogue all my favorites.

Also, look for celebrities or bloggers who wear clothes you like. Some of my favorites are Kate Middleton, Emma Watson and Joanna Gaines.

And then, gather it. Seriously, collect it all. Save photos on Instagram of style you like, cut out photos from the magazines, pin pin pin. Look for patterns in the things that interest you most.

Choose keywords that you want to describe your style.

Take a look at all the images you’ve compiled. If you could label some of them, what would be some good descriptive words? Here are some ideas:

Now choose the ones you come across over and over. Fit them together, and see if that’s a style you’d like.

For example, the ones I keep coming across from my Pinterest board: feminine. Classic. Neutral. Timeless. I’d love my style to reflect all of those things.

Maybe consider locations.

Certain places have their own sense of style. Which images do you instantly think of if I give you the following suggestions? France. New York. California. Greece. All completely different vibes. Again, which ones are you drawn to? This is another way to zero in on your favorite styles.

Think about what works for you.

What are your trouble spots? The things you have in your closet you don’t reach for, or the ones that you don’t feel like fit you right? What are colors you avoid? Make a note of these, too.

For me, I have trouble with most skirts. They often seem to hit me at an unflattering spot. So I tend to steer clear of them. I also don’t love maxi skirts or dresses, strappy tops, or statement pieces. I know I won’t reach for them if I get them.

Choose a color scheme.

Finally, narrow down colors. This really helped me to hone in on select clothing that I could mix and match, that also fits my style.

I am such a neutrals girl. So I started with a lot of basics: black, white, camel, navy, and gray. If I’m going to buy a jacket, cardigan, or pants, they’re usually one of these colors.

Next, I added some pops of color that I could incorporate in. I opted for blush, olive, chambray, and red. Usually these show up in accessories, tops, and dresses.

Your colors might be completely different. Maybe you focus on lots of bright colors, and only incorporate a few neutrals. Maybe you’re more of a vintage vibe, and you wear a lot of darker colors. But limiting your palette helps to limit your wardrobe, to keep from spending money on things you won’t be able to wear as much.

Narrow down patterns, too.

Some people are mix masters when it comes to patterns. I am not. I stick to one pattern, and all solids. If you can mix, so much the better. I limit my patterns so I can mix them or keep them with neutrals.

Sometimes I wonder what I would do with a whole day to myself. Maybe drive to the beach? Or instead spend a day in a spa? Perhaps shop until I literally drop? See how far I could get in a good book in the library or Barnes and Noble before they close? Write write write write write write write?

But that is a daydream and this is real life, my friends. If I can get in an hour for nap time, so much the better. Lately I’ve even been staying up until midnight just relishing the quiet and the ability to do whatever I want, which isn’t sustainable. Most days I’m scrambling for a few minutes.

We are starting something new with our church mom’s group, because many of us are seeing that same need. To take care of ourselves as well as our kids, so we don’t lose our minds during the day. And also make it happen with the time that we have. Usually, however, that time is rather short – maybe ten minutes at a time during the day.

So how about you? Got ten minutes?

Here are some self care ideas that will probably take you about that time – or longer if you have it.

Give yourself a quick hand or neck massage.

Watch YouTube videos that make you laugh, like our favorite, Jimmy Fallon.

Make yourself a mug cake or a mug brownie, both of which are delicious. They take between thirty seconds to five minutes to bake in the microwave, and they usually have only a few easy ingredients.

Take some time to meditate. Some ideas: focus on a positive thought or phrase, imagine yourself somewhere relaxing, or walk yourself through a favorite memory.

Give yourself a ten minute facial. Start by washing your face with a gentle cleanser. Apply a face mask, do a gentle face scrub, and finish with lotion or a face cream. Recommendations: first, I am obsessed with the Grown Alchemist Exfoliant I received in my FabFitFun box this season. I also have some Blue Tansy beauty cream on the way from Primally Pure that I can’t wait to try – it’s anti-inflammitory and has all kinds of nutrients for your skin. (Plus, use code JENN10 to get 10% off your order!)

Try a few yoga poses or sun salutations, which can do enough good and give you gentle mindfulness to set you up well for a long time. Also, Yoga with Adrienne on YouTube is awesome, and she happens to have a simple 10-minute routine for self-care.

Journal some positive affirmations, quotes, or scriptures. If you need a pretty journal, my favorites have this brand’s designs on them.

Have a dance party. You can maybe incorporate your kids in as well – or just take a couple minutes to dance on your own.

Have a good conversation with a friend, maybe even a text conversation.

Take some time to enjoy – really enjoy – a beverage that you like. Meaning don’t let that cup of coffee or tea get cold as you take random sips from it throughout the day.

Color! You can get free coloring pages online, or purchase a book to see your progress. My mom got me this one for Christmas one year, and I love it.

Make a collage. Even just cutting pretty pictures out of magazines calms me down. (I guess that’s why I like Pinterest so much.)

Take a quick nap, but set your alarm so you don’t snooze too long! Also, even a short nap can really re-energize you.

Clear out a drawer, your dresser, your closet, your nightstand, or some other place with a lot of clutter. Even better, put some things aside to pass on to friends.

Use an old t-shirt to make something new, even without sewing. I like this tutorial for a tote bag, and this one for a tank top.

Give yourself a hand or foot scrub and lotion. And then enjoy your super soft hands.

Take a shower or a bath.

Make a list of things you’re thankful for. The book One Thousand Gifts really opened my eyes to how powerful gratitude is.

Enjoy some time outside, by maybe taking a walk or having a picnic.

Paint your nails, and relax in the down time while they dry.

Make a list of things you like about yourself – maybe something you like about how you look, an accomplishment you’re proud of, something you’re good at, etc.

Give yourself a facial steam, which you can customize with essential oils and extracts. This one sounds perfect.

Make friendship bracelets! Embroidery thread is rather cheap, and you can get ideas for designs online – I like this one a lot. Plus, who doesn’t feel special getting a friendship bracelet?

Listen to some music that makes you feel more like you. I have a couple playlists that help me feel better almost instantly.

Finally, it’s your turn! What are even more things that can be done for self care in ten minutes?

On my Instagram stories, I asked if you’d want to follow my journey into trying a capsule wardrobe. Many of you responded with a yes, so I’ll be breaking it down into multiple posts going through the process.

But if you know me, you might think I must have seriously lost my mind, to be considering this.

For one thing, I’m a shopping addict. Even though I don’t usually have time for fitting rooms in real life, you can often find me scrolling a shopping app. Our mailman is familiar with our doorstep. I can’t resist a good deal.

I’m also a packrat. I am sentimental about things in general, and definitely clothes.

So to say that I would, willingly, sort through my clothes and actually cut out some of them, and shop less, seems like a joke.

Why the change?

Because my wardrobe is, in a word, overwhelming. It’s full of all kinds of colors, shapes and styles. I shop when the price is right, and when it’s love. And love happens a lot. So much that I don’t have enough hangers or enough dresser space for all of my clothes.

And then when it comes down to it, when I get dressed, I have nothing to wear. I have actually, on occasion, cried over my lack of outfit options. Now that is a sad state of affairs, and I don’t mean cry-worthy.

The benefits of a capsule wardrobe

Capsules have become a pretty popular topic. People are drawn to the idea of a minimalistic closet. And honestly, the mindsets behind it make it a pretty fantastic concept, especially for people like me.

Less clothes, more options. When you are intentional with your shopping and cultivating a closet, you end up with actually more options to wear. Clothing can be mixed and matched, rather than trying to put something together out of way too many random pieces.

Less erratic purchases, more intention. I am so guilty of buying something I like on the rack, and then donating it to Goodwill after little to no wears. Usually it’s because it’s on sale, or it’s a style I want to try, but am not fully convinced it will work on me. When you get familiar with your style and set some boundaries, you cut back on those purchases.

Less wasted money, more focused spending. When you’re buying spontaneously, whatever the reason, and you rarely wear what you buy, it’s a waste of money. With capsules, even if you spend more on individual quality pieces (not a requirement, by the way), you can calculate in a lower cost per wear.

Less time pondering an outfit, more uniforms. I read an article recently about how the smartest people in the world wear a uniform – a formula with the same items of clothing over and over. I’m not sure of the science behind that, but I do know how much time I’ve wasted staring at my clothes, and I probably could have written a book with the hours.

Less fast fashion, more style staples. The movement for slow fashion is growing. It’s the idea that we should invest less in clothing that doesn’t make it more than a few wears, and companies that don’t care for the environment or their workers. Instead, we can put our dollars and attention towards wardrobe workhorses that don’t do a lot of damage to the world that produces them.

Less stress, more peace of mind. In theory.

The commitment

Still – this isn’t an easy road to opt for. Setting boundaries in your wardrobe means losing some sentimentality and being serious about what you will and won’t wear. It’s deciding the styles and the budget that works best for you, and sticking to it.

But I think the peace of mind is worth it. I think the times when I’ve opted for discipline and boundaries in other areas of life, like nutrition and exercise and even finances, it’s worked out better for me.

So, now that I’m putting this out into the universe, I am going after it. What questions do you have about cultivating a capsule? Do you see yourself doing something like this, or is it overwhelming?